Rebel With a Cause

An Ice Breaker card reads: Would you rather go to jail on a point of principle? Why?

In order to answer this card, I imagine a state in the Philippines where total annihilation of freedom of expression is implemented. If ever right to liberty no longer exists and I happen to fight for that principle and consequentially I go to jail for that, then maybe, yes, I would allow myself to be thrown to jail on a point of principle.

I believe in liberty. I believe in freedom of expression. And if I have to be thrown to jail because I exercise my right to express myself, then maybe I’ll take the risk.

1661 Most Significant Songs in My Life: It’s My Life by Bon Jovi

I’m not a Bon Jovi fan, however, “It’s My Life” is a great song you can’t help but like. The song is about living life in one’s own terms, something I believe in. Furthermore, the song’s music adds to the energy of the lyrics, making the song sound anthemic.

In some way, the song’s also one of my personal anthems.

Ten All-Time Favorite Kelly Clarkson Songs

CRY

Out of all of Kelly Clarkson’s songs, this would be the most relatable for me. As I write this blog, I’m at a time in my life, where heartbreak came my way and this song is the most comforting, most relevant song for me to listen to. Singing allowed me to unleash whatever it was I felt—hurt, disappointment in myself. The song is perfectly relatable to a moment in my life, that’s why it’s significant to me.

MISS INDEPENDENT

This song is the first Kelly Clarkson song I considered a favorite. I even gave myself the alias of “Miss Independent” when I was twelve years old. Sometimes the song can be relatable as well.

LONG SHOT

The chorus was applicable to me during the summer semester of ’09. Until now I relate the song to some of my personal experiences, just to remind myself that even if something seems like a long shot, i should still take my chances and say “why not?” to things.

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

The song has lyrics I don’t exactly relate to, but still I find them beautiful and sweet. I got to appreciate the song fully when I read a CSI:NY fan fiction that used the song.

SOBER

I don’t exactly know how, but I sometimes feel like I could relate to this song. When I listen to the song, I get that feeling that it is something I can relate to. Maybe that’s because I think of my own life whenever I listen to this song, that’s why it feels like it’s relatable to me.

ALL I EVER WANTED

The lyrics in this song were something I was able to relate to when I was in the second year of my college life. All I ever really wanted was to get over this guy who only ended up breaking my heart without even knowing he ever did.

MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU

This is a song I would probably dedicate to a significant other… if I ever had one. Forgive me for my choice of adjective, but I think the song has really cute lyrics. I mean, there’s a person in your life who drives you crazy (in a good way… wait, how’s that even possible?) and yet you can’t live without that person. It’s a common dynamic in any relationship… and I have yet to know what that’s really like.

ALREADY GONE

Like “Cry”, “Already Gone” became relevant to me during that said time in my life. Some of the lyrics are words I would dedicate to the person involved in that situation, like “I love you enough to let you go.” And I try my very best to really let that person go.

SINCE U BEEN GONE

The song’s great to sing along to when you want to vent your rage after life’s heartbreaks and whatnot. I know I like singing along to when I feel like I have a broken heart.

I DO NOT HOOK UP

I know I don’t hook up, and this song is my anthem to that.

1661 Most Significant Songs in My Life: My Heart by Paramore

“This heART, it beats, beats for only you... my heART is yours.”

That used to be a tease or joke thrown at me because there’s this guy I liked. The song served as wordplay for my friend who would joke me now and then with it.

Now every time I hear “My Heart” I am reminded of that person.

1661 Most Significant Songs in My Life: Start of Something New (High School Musical OST)

The song’s significance in my life is pretty simple: I once used featured it in one of the fan fictions I wrote for “CSI:NY”.

There were some parallelisms between the scene in the movie where the song was featured and how the song was used in the short story. I used the song as the song my two lead characters sang as a duet when they first met. The very same thing holds true for the movie.

Writing inspiration—it’s the song’s basic significance in my life.